Does John Marston Inherit Arthur’s Stuff? A Comprehensive Guide
The question of what John Marston inherits from Arthur Morgan in Red Dead Redemption 2 is a complex one, deeply tied to the game’s narrative and mechanics. The short answer is yes, John inherits a significant portion of Arthur’s belongings. However, there are notable exceptions and nuances that affect the player’s experience in the epilogue. Let’s delve into the specifics of what transfers and what is tragically lost.
What John Keeps: A Legacy of Gear and Knowledge
When the player transitions from Arthur to John at the end of Chapter 6 and begins the Epilogue, a significant transfer of assets occurs. This helps maintain continuity and allows players to continue exploring the open world with a familiar arsenal and skillset.
Weapons and Outfits
John inherits Arthur’s weapons. This includes all guns, melee weapons, and thrown weapons that Arthur possessed at the time of his death. Similarly, Arthur’s outfits and clothing become available to John after completing a few missions in the epilogue. This allows players to customize John’s appearance, reflecting both his own style and a connection to Arthur’s legacy.
Kit Items, Trinkets, and Talismans
Essential items that aided Arthur in his journey, such as kit items, trinkets, and talismans, are transferred to John. These items provide various buffs and benefits, enhancing John’s abilities and ensuring he’s well-equipped for the challenges ahead.
Valuables and Documents
Valuables like gold bars and jewelry, which can be sold for cash, are also inherited by John. Additionally, important documents, which may include maps or clues to hidden treasures, are transferred, allowing players to continue exploring and completing unfinished side quests.
Arthur’s Journal
Perhaps one of the most poignant inheritances is Arthur’s journal. This beautifully written record of Arthur’s thoughts, observations, and drawings provides deep insight into his character and the events of the game. John can access and read the journal, offering a powerful emotional connection to the past and a glimpse into Arthur’s soul. The journal illustrates the power of storytelling and character development in video games, a topic of interest to the Games Learning Society.
What John Loses: The Inevitable Sacrifices
While John inherits a substantial amount from Arthur, certain things are irrevocably lost, reflecting the harsh realities of the game’s narrative.
Arthur’s Money
Despite Arthur giving John his satchel, it doesn’t contain all of Arthur’s money. This loss can be frustrating for players who amassed a fortune as Arthur. The narrative justification is that Arthur likely spent a good portion of the money assisting the remaining members of the Van der Linde gang. However, the game does provide a way for John to recoup some of those losses, as he recovers a significant sum from Dutch and Micah later in the epilogue.
Horses
Perhaps the most painful loss is that of Arthur’s horses. All horses Arthur owned, including special mounts like Buell (given by Hamish Sinclair), are gone forever. This forces players to find and bond with new horses as John, severing a deep connection formed with their equine companions during Arthur’s journey.
Provisions, Tonics, Ingredients, and Materials
While John inherits some useful items, provisions, tonics, ingredients, and materials do not fully transfer over. Players will need to restock and gather these resources as John, adding a survival element to the epilogue gameplay.
Honor Ranking
Arthur’s honor ranking does not directly transfer to John. While John starts with a relatively neutral honor, players must rebuild their reputation through their actions in the epilogue. This provides an opportunity to shape John’s character and forge his own path.
Recovering Lost Fortunes: Dutch’s Stash
Although Arthur’s money is lost, John has a chance to recover a large sum later in the epilogue.
The Money from Micah and Dutch
At the end of the epilogue, John confronts Micah and Dutch. After killing Micah, Dutch leaves behind a substantial amount of money. This serves as a partial replacement for the funds lost with Arthur, providing John with the financial means to start a new life.
Dutch’s Chest
Interestingly, Dutch’s chest containing additional supplies and possibly money, remains in Beaver Hollow if the player chose the honorable option during the final mission. Players can return to the hideout as John and loot the chest, finding an untouched stash from the gang’s past.
FAQs: Red Dead Redemption 2 – John’s Inheritance
Here are some frequently asked questions about what John Marston inherits from Arthur Morgan in Red Dead Redemption 2, offering further insights into the game’s mechanics and narrative.
Does John get all of Arthur’s outfits?
Yes, after completing a few missions in the epilogue, John gains access to all of Arthur’s outfits. This includes both the outfits Arthur owned and any custom outfits the player created.
Does John inherit Arthur’s weapons?
Yes, John inherits all of Arthur’s weapons, including firearms, melee weapons, and thrown weapons. This ensures continuity in combat capabilities.
What happens to Arthur’s horses?
Unfortunately, all of Arthur’s horses are lost upon his death. This includes special horses like Buell. Players must find and tame new horses as John.
Does John keep Arthur’s satchel?
While John receives Arthur’s satchel, it’s important to note that the satchel does not contain all of Arthur’s money.
How much money does John get at the end of the epilogue?
John receives $20,000 at the end of the epilogue, recovered from Dutch and Micah. This helps him establish a new life.
Does John inherit Arthur’s Journal?
Yes, John inherits Arthur’s Journal, which contains Arthur’s writings and drawings. It provides valuable insights into Arthur’s character and the events of the game.
Does John inherit Arthur’s stabled horses?
No, Arthur’s stabled horses do not transfer to John. All horses owned by Arthur are lost upon his death.
Can John get Dutch’s money?
Yes, John can recover a substantial sum of money from Dutch after confronting him and Micah at the end of the epilogue.
Can you get Dutch’s chest as John?
Yes, if the player chose the honorable option, Dutch’s chest will remain in Beaver Hollow and can be looted by John.
What do you lose when Arthur dies?
When Arthur dies, you lose his money, horses, provisions, tonics, ingredients, materials, and honor ranking.
Why can’t John Marston swim?
John Marston canonically cannot swim. This is consistent with the first Red Dead Redemption game and is explained as a lack of swimming skills.
Do Arthur’s guns transfer to John?
Yes, Arthur’s guns transfer to John at the beginning of the Epilogue, allowing him to maintain his combat prowess.
Why did Dutch shoot Micah?
Dutch shot Micah because he felt responsible for the downfall of the gang and Arthur’s death, and realized Micah betrayed them. Dutch gains his redemption by shooting Micah.
Is Arthur Dutch’s son?
Arthur Morgan was effectively adopted by Hosea Matthews and Dutch Van Der Linde, who served as father figures to him.
What happens if John goes back to where Arthur died?
If John returns to Arthur’s grave, his spirit animal may appear. The grave’s appearance will vary based on the honor path Arthur followed.
In conclusion, while John Marston inherits a significant portion of Arthur Morgan’s belongings, including weapons, outfits, valuables, and Arthur’s poignant journal, certain things like horses and the entirety of Arthur’s savings are tragically lost. These losses serve to deepen the emotional impact of the story and highlight the sacrifices made by Arthur. By exploring the world as John, players can honor Arthur’s legacy and continue the adventure in the spirit of Red Dead Redemption 2. Learning about how games tell stories and develop characters can provide a new layer of appreciation for the art form, and you can explore such topics at the GamesLearningSociety.org website.